Daily Gospel Reflection for July 3, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 20:24-29

St. Thomas gets a bad rap thanks to this Gospel passage. All most of us know about him is that he doubted—yet he is recognized as a saint. Would any of us do better? Do any of us do better?

Fortunately, Jesus is merciful. He let Thomas touch His hands and His side, so that he could see and feel and believe. Yes, He said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed,” but He still met Thomas where he was, in his disbelief.

Today, we may not be able to touch Jesus’s hands and side. But the Incarnation means that we know Jesus understands what it means to be human, to have physical needs and physical limitations. He left us a Church that caters to those needs and addresses those limitations.

We have the very physical Eucharist, literally Christ’s body and blood. We have music. We have incense. We have candles. For us mothers, we have the sacrament of marriage. We have the physicality of motherhood (such a physically demanding role, even after childbirth and even for adoptive mothers).

The Eucharist enables us to physically receive Jesus. Music, incense, and candles are sensory reminders of spiritual realities. Marriage allows us to experience on a physical level what real love is. Motherhood shows us what it means to sacrifice your body for someone you love. All of these gifts are from God, to help us to know Him and His love.

When I receive the Eucharist, do I thank God for his Son? As a mother with chronic pain, do I gracefully accept the pain of caring for a toddler? Do I frequent the Sacraments to nourish my soul? In short: Do I take advantage of all Jesus gives my doubting heart so I can grow in my faith?

Ponder:

Do I take advantage of all that Jesus gives my doubting heart so I can grow in my faith?

Pray:

Lord, help me to know You without seeing You. Help me to love You without touching You.

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Jesus knows what it means to be human, to have physical needs and limitations. He left us a Church that caters to those needs. Do I take advantage of all that Jesus gives my doubting heart? #DailyGospel

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